Local Bodmin Attractions
With so many incredible Bodmin attractions only a stone’s throw away, we have chosen our absolute favourites for you to peruse! No matter if you’re stuck with what to do with the family, or simply don’t want to have to troll the internet to find the best Bodmin attractions, we’ve got you covered.
Bodmin Steam Railway
This Bodmin attraction will take you on a trip back to a bygone age, with 13 miles of tracks winding their way through the beautiful Cornish countryside, why not ride on a steam locomotive for a unique experience to remember. The Cornish branch line dates back to the 1950s and trains set off from Bodmin General, in the centre of Bodmin, and head to Bodmin Parkway station, just 3 miles from Rivermead, or to Boscarne Junction, where the line runs adjacent to the Camel Trail. The service operates from March to October and there are often special events and trains running.
Lanhydrock House
Only 5 miles from Rivermead stands this stunning country house, this Bodmin attraction was once home to the wealthy Robartes family but is now owned by the National Trust. Lanhydrock was a Jacobean house which was re-built in grand Victorian style after a dreadful fire in 1881. The house is surrounded by gorgeous gardens, ancient woodland, and rustic riverside paths. You can visit the house itself or wander through the grounds on foot or on bicycles, which are also available to hire on site. There’s a great café to enjoy onsite also.
Bodmin Jail
One of the most well-known Bodmin attractions is without a doubt Bodmin Jail. Only 6 miles from Rivermead, it is a forbidding sight looming over Bodmin, but the immersive visitor experience makes for a fascinating day out. Work began on the jail on the edge of Bodmin Moor in 1779, during the reign of King George III. Over 20,000 tonnes of local granite were used in what was to be a milestone in prison design and reform, segregating the sexes, with individual cells, hot water and light. The last man to be hanged at the jail was in 1909, during the years it is believed that 55 inmates were executed here with the Victorian execution pit still existing in working order. The jail was finally decommissioned in 1929 and thus it became one of the most illustrious Bodmin attractions as we know it as today.
Golitha Falls
The River Fowey flows through Rivermead’s grounds and 6 miles upstream are Golitha Falls. They’re a series of cascades and waterfalls caused as the river wends its way through a steep-sided gorge, descending some 90 metres through the ancient oak woodland, Draynes Wood. The falls are not only a stunning Bodmin attraction but are also a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest so keep your eyes peeled for woodland flowers, lichens, bryophytes and lesser-horseshoe and brown, long-eared bats.